2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 Steering Problems

Power steering intermittently goes out. Mostly when it's hot out, slow speeds, and cornering.

The steering is very loose. There are multiple complaints about this. I owned a 2017 GMC 2500 before this and had the same issue. I have not brought this into a shop because I’m not looking forward to the diagnosis & cost. This has been an ongoing issue for years. GM needs to recall something in the steering box. Source: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On June 27 2023 we we driving on a two lane highway pulling our travel trailer. We had driven 5 hrs the previous day parked unhooked and drove around the area with no issues. The following morning we left an were just entering the highway speed zone when the truck abruptly crossed the centreline. I managed to correct and stop n the shoulder and noticed 6-8” of play in the steering wheel. I dropped the trailer and slowly drove back to the town to try and see what the issue was. The vehicle continued to move left and right with no input from me. It was determined that the steering box was leaking and when steering was input a thumping could be felt in the tires but not in the steering wheel. The shop determined the box sector shaft adjustment shaft was nearly backed out completely. I contacted the dealership that services my truck about what should be done and they stated “replace the steering box” which we did. Had there been on coming traffic this would have been a fatal or serious collision and it is doubtful this defect would have surfaced as a causal factor.

There is excessive play in the steering causing the vehicle to wander. Problem is amplified at freeway speeds or while towing 5th-wheel. On some roads truck will pull one direction till change in road slop cause truck to swerve in opposite direction. Like many others have stated this is a dangerous situation. Problem has not been confirmed by service center on this truck, but manufacturer has issued TSB PIT5501E. There are no warnings messages.

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE . I HAVE IT AVAILABLE. RECOMMENDED SERVICE IS 150K MILES OR 10 YEARS . IT BROKE AT 55K AND 5 YEARS. LOST BRAKE AND STEERING ASSIST. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP OR TURN VEHICLE. IT IS A DIESEL AND USES HYDRAULIC ASSIST. DEALER REPLACED BELT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. NO WARNING.

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN OCTOBER 2019. WHILE OUT ON THE TEST DRIVE, I NOTICED 2 TO 3 INCHES OF FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO IT AND THEY FOUND A BOLT IN THE STEERING BOX HAD BACKED OUT ABOUT A HALF INCH ON IT'S OWN. THEY FOUND A TSB FROM GM SAYING TO USE LOCTITE ON THE BOLT. THEY FIXED IT AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOOD FOR TWO MONTHS. I AM NOW STARTING TO FEEL FREE PLAY AGAIN AND THE STEERING ITSELF FEELS VERY LOOSE/ NO STIFFNESS AT ALL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I'VE SEEN MANY OWNERS IN MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND I FEAR FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHEN TOWING OUR HEAVY CAMPER NEXT YEAR ON VACATION. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Mileage: 70,000

EXCESS PLAY AND SLOPPY STEERING. LOOSE AND WORN PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 37,844 MILES. VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED AND NOT ABUSED OFF ROAD.

Mileage: 37,844

SLOPPY LOOSE STEERING, SLACK ADJUSTER STUD LOOSENED 3/8 INCH, 3 TO 4 INCH STEERING PLAY. UNSAFE. LOCTITE FIX DOES NOT LAST. NEW RE-ENGINEERED GEAR BOX RECALL NEEDED.

Mileage: 29,000

STEERING IS ALWAYS A BIT LOOSE. AT ONLY 70,000 THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WARNINGS CAME ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE PITMAN SHAFT IS BACKING ITSELF OUT OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YET, CHEVY HAS 6 TSBS ON THIS ISSUE (THE LATEST SAYING TO USE SOME LOCK-TITE ON IT); THEY HAD A NEWLY DESIGNED PART; AND, CHECKING INVENTORY YOU LEARN THAT DEALERS HAVE NEW STEERING ASSEMBLIES IN INVENTORY FOR 2016 AND 2017. SEEMS AS THOUGH CHEVY KNOWS IT HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY/STEERING ISSUE AND HAVE MADE A BUSINESS DECISION TO NOT RECALL UNTIL THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND PEOPLE DIE. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS ON THIS SITE OF FAILURES AT MILEAGES FROM 1700 ON UP. THIS CLEARLY IS THE RESULTS OF A DESIGN OR SYSTEM FLAW AND IS SYSTEMIC. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE SPEED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (1125 CENTRAL E FWY, WICHITA FALLS, TX 76306, (940) 723-6631) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL RAILS. IN ADDITION, THE FAN CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND CASE NUMBER: 8-4064184145 WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Mileage: 38,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFERENT AND HAD TO BE TURNED A FEW INCHES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND AND TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARAMIE GM AUTO CENTER (3600 GRAND AVE, LARAMIE, WY 82070 (307) 460-4761) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500.

Mileage: 39,500

AT 2000 MILES ON MY NEW TRUCK, THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX. I HAVE NOW HAD IT IN 3 MORE TIMES WITH LOOSE STEERING. VERY SCAREY TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY WITH LOOSE STEERING. YOU FEEL IT MORE AT HIGHER SPEEDS THAN YOU DO AT LOWER SPEEDS

Mileage: 2,000

2016 SILVERADO 3500 EQUIPPED WITH "DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST" THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE WITH ABOUT 3-4 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO 1ST DEALER, STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET TSB AND SYSTEM WORKED AS DESIGNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4K MILES. AT THAT TIME STEERING AGAIN BECAME LOOSE BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING, VERY LIGHT, DANGEROUSLY LIGHT STEERING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 2, SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT DEALER STATED SYSTEM WORKING AS DESIGNED, AT THIS TIME THE DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST WORKED AS IT SHOULD FROM 0 MPH TO 45 MPH ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING WITH VERY LIGHT STEERING FROM 46-74 MPH, THEN WORKS AS DESIGNED FROM 75 MPH ON. I WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE STATED "I FEEL EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING TIGHT FROM 0-45 THEN LIGHT FROM 46-74 THEN TIGHT FROM 75 ON BUT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AS DESIGNED". IN SPITE OF THIS THEY CHANGED STEERING GEAR BOX AGAIN, 3RD PART, WITH SAME RESULT. WORKS AS IT SHOULD FROM 0 MPH TO 45 MPH ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE WHEEL WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH POWER STEERING, VERY LIGHT STEERING FROM 46-74 MPH, THEN WORKS AS DESIGNED FROM 75 ON. TRUCK IS USED TO PULL 9.000 LBS ENCLOSED TRAILER. PULLING ENCLOSED TRAILER AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IN WINDS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES EXHAUSTING CONCENTRATION AND CAUSES SEVERE FATIGUE AFTER ONLY 150-200 MILES. THIS IS THE VERY THING DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE. VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 45-75, AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING THROUGH THE 44-46 MPH RANGE WHILE TURNING DUE TO SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING PRESSURE FROM SYSTEM SUCH AS ON/OFF RAMPS

Mileage: 13,000

THE SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS ISSUE IS THE SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICULAR STEERING CONTROL. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN TO 1,700 TOTAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE TRUCK'S STEERING CONTROL BECAME SLOPPY IN 70MPH + INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING RESULTING IN HIGHWAY WANDER SIMILAR TO DRIVING IN WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPG+ (WHERE AT TIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN POSITION IN YOUR HIGHWAY LANE). SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE STEERING BOX SHOWED THAT THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM LASH ADJUSTMENT SCREW ON THE STEERING BOX HAD BACKED OFF APPROXIMATELY 3/8", THE STEERING HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND THE STEERING BOX WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE STEERING SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK IS A DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM. THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND UNSUCCESSFULLY (NO CHANGE IN FUNCTIONALITY) REPAIRED UNDER GM TSB #PIT5501C (REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING BOX) AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED (TO DATE) UNDER GM TSB #PIT5501D (REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM SHAFT WITH AN UPDATED DESIGN GM P/N 84240812. CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 5,500 TOTAL ODOMETER MILES ON THE TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 1,700

NEW TRUCK HAD LOSE STEERING WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY, REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION. WITH JUST 4529 IN MILEAGE ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY ALREADY HAD MADE REPAIRS TO FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR. STEERING GEAR ADJUSTER WAY TOO FAR OUT, LEAKING AT SHAFT SEALS. REPLACED GEAR AND THE NEW ONE WAS BAD AS WELL, WITH STEERING STICKING AND THEN SLIPPING. REPLACED WITH SECOND NEW GEAR AND VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND WAS RETURNED TO ME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION FOR A TRUCK DESIGNED TO TOW HEAVY VEHICLES.

Mileage: 100